Author's Note: Sorry it has been so long since I have updated. You would think that having a summer's vacation would give me more time to write, yet it doesn't. Between my babysitting job and the job I hold at a grocery store, as well as helping my mom out around the house, I don't have time. There is also some swearing in this chapter, so don't be shocked when it comes up! Enjoy, and don't forget to

Review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kenshin, Kaoru, or any of the other characters. I also do not own JL Conrad, or her poem August. I do own the idea to this story though, and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've liked writing it.

Chapter 6: Red Paint

As you pull—the paint, red,
Had blackened by night

:---:

The stars were only partially hidden as Kaoru stepped out of her dormitory into the night. She pulled her jacket tighter around her as the wind blew, her thoughts trying to place what she had read in the diaries, Kenshin's thoughts, and her latest dream.

Kenshin and Kaoru, along with their friends had obviously found some sort of quietness to their lives. Kaoru and Kenshin had settled down, started a family, and were happy with that life. What the teen had said to his mother bothered Kaoru. Where had Kenshin gone to, why wasn't he apart of their lives anymore? He obviously was still alive, had he been asked to fight for the country again? Or did his past once again drive him away to protect Kaoru and their son?

Kaoru had reached the main road, just off of campus, leading to Kenshin's apartment, and as habit, took the road.

No, Kaoru thought, he had overcome his past; he was beyond that, they had started their lives. He was happy, content.

She stopped at the intersection, waiting for the light to change, when a shiver past down her spine, her hair pricked at the back of her neck. She shook her head as the light changed. She was just imagining things; the dark, partly overcast night was getting to her. She had to stop watching the horror flicks with Misao late at night; she thought as she crossed the street, turned left and continued down the road toward the apartment the boys shared.

She decided to be more alert, though, and watched the street as she walked down the sidewalk. There was a couple on the other side of the road, laughing, holding each other tight, stopping to kiss every so often; a man with a baseball cap and jacket walking behind her a few yards away. As she neared the dark street that Kenshin's building was on, she paid more attention to the man behind her. If she had to, she knew where she could hide to jump him. She started walking a bit faster towards the building, which wasn't far from the intersection. She was at the driveway of the building when she noticed the man take the corner like she did, hesitate for a second, and continue to walk down toward her. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and called Kenshin.

'Come on Kenshin, pick up the phone. Come on." Kaoru said as she stood behind a tree in the yard, watching the man coming down the road, almost like he was going to past the building.

"Hello?" Kenshin answered after several rings later, his voice filled with sleepiness.

"Hey it's me. I'm outside of the building. He's going past the building, but he was definitely following me."

"Kaoru? What are you talking about? You're outside?" Kenshin asked, confused by the late night call.

"Yes. Come down. I'm standing by the tree."

"I'll be down in a few." Kenshin said, hanging up the phone.

Kaoru watched as the man went past the drive, continued to the next apartment building and turned into the drive there. He didn't go near the door though. Kaoru would have seen him in the lights on either side of the door. She watched for signs that he went to another door, but didn't see shadows or anything in the lighted parking lot. Thank goodness Kenshin's place was two large houses combined and broken into apartments and they didn't have a light except at the backdoor where everyone went in and out.

"Kaoru?" She heard Kenshin whisper into the night.

"I'm here Kenshin."

"What in the world are you doing here?" Kenshin asked, coming up to her.

"I had a dream. I couldn't sleep so I took a walk, ending up here. I don't know how long this guy was following me. I noticed him on the main street. He turned in at that other apartment complex, but didn't go in. The light would have showed him at the door.

"I'm gonna go check it out. I want you to stay right here. If I need you, I will bring him here, or call for you. Okay? I don't want you near him yet, incase he has a weapon." Kenshin said kissing her cheek, and darting across the lawn to the other building.

A few minutes later, Kenshin and the other guy were walking back towards her. The other guy was on his cell phone.

:---:

"Hey boss. It's me." The young guy said into his cell phone.

"Yeah, she actually left, I'm following her now, I'm gonna move up more when I'm done talking with you." He said, responding to what his boss had said on the other line.

"Okay." He said, hanging up the phone, and picking up his speed a bit as the girl left the campus grounds.

As he followed the girl, he became aware that she was speeding up, looking back at him every few feet. 'Eh, must think I'm a rapist or something. Let her think that.' As he kept at the speed, watching as she turned down the street where Himura lived. As he turned, he saw her duck in behind a tree in the front yard of his apartment building. 'Does she think she can loose me so easily? I'll walk past the house and duck in at the next apartment building. I'll catch up with Kairi as well. Probably pissed as hell I haven't called her.' He thought as he walked down the dark street, the thought ran through his head that it was great his on again, off again girlfriend lived in the building next to Himura's. As he passed he heard her on her cell phone with Himura. 'Coming to check things out huh? Interesting.' He thought as he ducked into the next apartment complex parking lot.

:---:

"What were you doing following my girlfriend?" Kenshin asked the young guy, getting closer to him with every word.

"Easy mister. I was just going to my own girlfriend's apartment." He said, innocently.

"Why didn't you go to the door?" Kaoru asked him, peeking out from behind Kenshin.

"I had called her, she didn't answer her phone. We got into a fight, probably ignoring me." He answered Kaoru. "You know how they are when you get in an argument." He said, shrugging at Kenshin.

"I doubt that, there is no way that you happen to have a girlfriend next door."

"Well, it's on again, off again."

"Why were you following me?" Kaoru asked as someone came out the door at the other apartment building.

"Iizuka?" A voice called out.

"See? I told you my girl lives next door." He said, turning and calling out. "I'm over here babe! Talking to some friends of mine."

"Friends?"

"Yes. Someone wants you two on their side. Be care, I'll be watching." Iizuka said as he left and met Kairi between the two buildings.

"So you were following me?"

"Yes, both of you on and off. But not maliciously. I'll be in touch."

:---:

"What do you think that was about?" Kaoru asked Kenshin as they watched the couple start to talk as they headed toward the building.

"I have no clue." Kenshin said, as he turned back to Kaoru.

"Who could want us on their side? What in the world does that mean? Are there two sides we could be on? Why do they want us, what are they going to do to get us?

"Kaoru, calm down. I have no answers. I suppose we have to wait until they come to us. And its way to late to be answering complicated questions." Kenshin said, leading her back to the building.

"I should go home." Kaoru said.

"Are you sure?"

"No." Kaoru answered.

"You want me to take you back to campus?" Kenshin asked.

"No."

"Do you want to stay here?"

"No."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"I know. I just can't believe someone's been following us and we haven't noticed it. How long has he been following us? How many have there been?"

"Stay here tonight. I'll sleep on the couch. You're too worked up to go back on your own, and I'm not dressed to take you home."

"I wasn't able to sleep anyways. That's why I was out on a walk, how I ended up here. I had a dream, one about Kaoru, and who had to be Kenshin and Kaoru's son in his teens."

"Really?"

"He had Kenshin's red hair and Kaoru's eyes. Talked to her as Mother and Kenshin as Father.

"What were they talking about? Did you hear their words?" Kenshin asked as he led Kaoru into their house and up the steps.

"They were arguing. He had learned the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, and wanted to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi, but Kenshin wouldn't teach it to him. He wanted to visit his master, Hiko, but neither Kenshin nor Kaoru would let him. Kenshin was away. Hadn't been home for a while from the way I took it." Kaoru said as they walked to the boy's apartment upstairs.

"He wasn't home? That's strange." Kenshin said.

"Yeah, I know. I thought after he and Kaoru had married that he would stay. He was happy, content with staying there. But for some reason, he hadn't. I don't know why." Kaoru said quietly, walking into the apartment. "You go to bed, I'll stay on the couch." She said, pushing Kenshin towards his bedroom.

"No, you need the rest. Go on." Kenshin said, kissing her on the forehead.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go on." Kenshin said, grabbing the blanket from the chair it sat on and sat down on the couch so Kaoru couldn't.

"Okay." Kaoru said, quietly heading back to his bedroom.

:---:

"What was that all about!" Kairi yelled at him as soon as they got to her apartment. "The last thing I knew we weren't talking because of your latest job!"

"Well, that was my latest job." Iizuka told her.

"Huh? The people you are following live next door?" She said, walking into the kitchen. It was nearly 2 o'clock in the morning. When the phone had rang and she heard Iizuka's voice, it had nearly given her a heart attack. It was true their relationship was on again off again, mostly because of the nature of their jobs. While he did the undercover work for his boss, she worked at the office in a legal capacity with his lawyer. Technically they weren't allowed to date, but they had known and gone out a few times in high school, and still, secretively, were dating. If the boss found out, one or both of them were fired. She wouldn't care. She'd love to get out, was trying to, but Iizuka didn't want to do anything else.

"The boyfriend does. I followed the girlfriend there tonight. I follow both, but stick with the girl at night. She seems to go out at night more.

"Why call me?"

"I needed an excuse, got caught following her." He answered. "And I figured it was time we talked out what happened a couple weeks ago. Its never been this long before."

"Iizuka, you know we shouldn't be doing this in the first place. The less we see each other the best. At least until one of us, most likely me can get out of the office. That way it can be more open and we won't fight, hopefully."

"Kairi, I know that. What caused the argument 10 days ago?"

"I was under a lot of stress. The boss was going through that big lawsuit, and I was need around the clock." She answered, turning towards him. "He asked about us. Asked if we were going against company policy. I told him we were friends, had gone out in high school, but that was all. It'll be the easier when I get out of there."

"When did we decide you would be the one leaving the company?"

"I hate it there, I'm moving up. You like working for the boss. You love it there; have always dreamed of working for him, as long as I've known you. I would never let you choose between me or your job, not when I hate it as much as I do." She said, turning and walking into the family room.

"I plan to leave anyways. I needed the information, not him. You don't know something about me; and now isn't the time to tell you, but you will find out soon." He said, interrupting her from asking what it was. "As soon as this job is done, I'm out of there." He said as he followed her into the room, leaned against the entryway between the family room and kitchen.

"You don't know something either. I'm going to my intelligence interview with the CIA. If this goes well, I'll be hired." She said, looking up at him as she sat at the couch.

"So this it." He said, sitting next to her.

"For now."

"Good luck Kirie." Dragging her into his embrace.

"Thanks. It's what I've always wanted." She said, settling into the embrace, laughing at the nickname he'd called her as long as she'd known him.

"I know. I've always hoped you'd get it as well."

"Have you?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't you think that?"

"I don't know. You weren't thrilled when I got my law degree and passed the bar."

"I was ecstatic. I just couldn't show it. Didn't know how to show it, either." He said quietly.

They sat there for a long time, holding each other, thinking of the things that they could have done differently, how they could have said their true feelings, showed their true feelings, and not hide it from the others around them.

'Just a bit more time and you'll have the world Kairi. I promise you that, from the bottom of my heart.'

:---:

"So this guy was following you? But he happened to have a girl friend next door?" Misao asked Kaoru as they waited for their Japanese history class to begin.

"As far as we can figure out." Kaoru answered her.

"Why is he following you and Kenshin?"

"We don't know. He told us that he would find us an answer some questions. But not at that point."

"Mysterious." Misao said, tilting her head as if to think about the young man that Kaoru and Kenshin had run into the night before, well actually early this morning.

"Very mysterious."

"He didn't say when?" Misao asked.

"Nope." Kaoru said as the professor came into the class room.

:---:

"Good Morning Kairi."

"Good Morning Boss. How was your evening?" Kairi asked the boss as he went through the main office the next morning.

"Pleasant. How was yours?" He said, stopping at her desk.

"Very well, thank you for asking."

"Will you get Iizuka on the telephone for me? You should be able to reach his cell phone. He's out today."

"Out?"

"Not sick. I know you are good friends, so don't worry. He's out on his latest job."

"Okay."

"About Iizuka," The boss started as he stopped at the door to his office.

"Yes?"

"How long have you known each other?"

"We've known each other since high school, Sir."

"Really? Interesting how you both ended up here."

"We were both very surprised. We had lost touch when I was in law school."

"What was your relationship during school?"

"Relationship? When we first met we went out a couple of times, but decided we made better friends. We were best friends from then on."

"And still?"

"We have caught up and stayed friends since yes. Why are you wondering Sir?

"Iizuka needs a friend like you. Don't listen to him when he says I the work I give him is dangerous and wants to protect the friends he has. Stay by his side."

"I'll get him on the phone for you Sir."

"Thank you Kairi."

"You're welcome Sir."

---

"Boss, its Iizuka."

"Hello. I see Kairi got hold of you."

"Yes, Kamiya and Himura are in class right now. I suspect your calling because of my message this morning?"

"Yes. I also had an interesting chat with Kairi this morning. Keep her by your side. She's a great friend and ally for you to have. Don't push everyone away when the job gets dangerous."

"Yes, she's a great friend. I'll take your advice."

"Okay. After you message I received, I believe the time for me to meet with Kamiya and Himura. Tell them I want to meet with them on Friday night."

"Fine, Sir. I understand. I'll pass the message on." Iizuka answered. "They are coming out of their classes now. Kamiya is with their friend Makimachi. Will that be all, Boss?"

"Yes. Have a good day."

"Thank you, Boss. You too."

:---:

"How are you feeling this morning, Kaoru?" Kenshin whispered as they walked behind Misao and Aoshi, Sano yelling for them to hurry up ahead.

"I'm fine. Thank you. You haven't seen him have you?" Kaoru asked, glancing around them.

"Yeah, he's keeping his distance though. I don't know why I didn't realize it earlier, probably because it was well hidden, but I've felt his ki before. It's familiar, but I've never seen him before in my life.

"Maybe he was part of our life during the Meiji?" Kaoru guessed.

"Maybe, but I doubt I would recognize it from then, would I?"

"I'm not sure. I would think anything from our past life would be like a sense of déjà vu. Is that how it seems to you?" Kaoru asked, looking up at Kenshin.

"Yeah. It does seem a bit like that." Kenshin said after thinking for a few moments.

"That would be my guess than. That's why it seems familiar."

"Excuse me? Kenshin Himura?" A young man said, coming up behind them.

"Yes, that's me."

"I have a note for you from 'A friend'." The young man said, handing Kenshin a piece of notebook paper, a note scribbled in messy writing. 'Meet me on Friday night at 8 o'clock at the tree where we met last night. The boss wants to meet you.'

"Thank you." Kenshin said. "Where is the person who gave this to you?"

"I don't see him. He must have had to leave. He said you would know him." The student said, looking around.

"Yes, I was just hoping to speak to him."

"I don't see him around, sorry."

:---:

"We need to figure out what to do." Kenshin said as they sat in the student lounge, the note from Iizuka sitting in the middle of the table while the four teens sat around it, staring at it.

"What do you know of the guy?"

"His boss wants to speak with us. That's about it." Kaoru said.

"Is that all he told you last night when you caught him following Kaoru last night?" Misao asked.

"Yeah, and he doesn't mean us any trouble." Kenshin said, picking up the note and turning it over. "I just don't get it. We don't even know who his boss is or why he wants us on his side. What's the other side?"

"I guess the only way to find out is too meet with him on Friday night then." Sano said, shrugging his shoulders.

"They can't possibly walk into a trap like that though Rooster head." Megumi said.

"It wouldn't be a trap." Sano replied.

"How do you know that?" She said back to him

"If they were being followed for any amount of time, they could have been attacked or trapped at any time, why would they wait until now?" Sano asked her.

"He has a point Megumi." Misao said.

"Because now Ken-san and Kaoru now know that they were being followed. This might be moving their plan along faster than they want it to be. You don't know what will be waiting for you."

"It certainly doesn't sound like a trap." Aoshi said quietly, his fingers folded steeple in front of his face, elbows on the table.

"Is that your shinobi instincts talking?" Sano asked sarcastically.

"Its common sense telling me that. There is no mention of coming alone, the meeting place is in a public place, a place that Kenshin can't avoid as it's in front of his house, and if they really want their help like they say they do they know better than to set a trap. Sano's point is also valid. If they had been following them for some time they could have easily set a trap before this time." Aoshi said.

"Why do you always have to be so damn reasonable and sensible?" Megumi said. "I want neither of my friends to be hurt because of our stupidity!' Megumi said.

"Megs, they aren't going to be hurt. That's the last thing any of us want. And with Aoshi and I there, they will not be hurt." Sano said, reaching out for Megumi's hand. "And neither Kenshin or Kaoru are so stupid. They know how to fight. You know that as well as any of us."

"I know. Its just that this has come out of nowhere. What is it that they want from two university students?"

"I wonder if they want the diaries." Kaoru asked.

"How would they know about the diaries?" Kenshin asked.

"I don't know. Maybe they knew of them before they actually knew us, maybe that's why they were looking for us?" Kaoru said, shrugging.

"Hmm. Lets see what questions they ask and how they answer our questions on Friday." Kenshin said. "Aoshi, Sano, you will watch and follow us when he takes to where the boss is waiting for us. The boss wouldn't come to us; he would make us go to him." Kenshin said. He wouldn't stop worrying for the next four days.

:---:

"Iizuka, did the boss tell you about our chat this morning?" Kairi asked as they ate lunch together in a little café a couple of blocks from the campus.

"Some of it, why?"

"He was kind of, ominous in one of the things he told me." Kairi said. She waited a few moments before she spoke again. "Is this job your on dangerous?"

Iizuka looked up at her as he put his chopsticks up to his mouth. He kept looking at her looking back at him as he ate his soba noodles. When he had finished he finally spoke. "What did he say to you?"

"He simply told me not to listen to you when you say your job is too dangerous and not to let you push me away because of that. He told me to stick to your side and never stop being there for you." Kairi said quietly.

"Hm. I wonder if there is something he hasn't told me." Iizuka said half to himself, half to Kairi.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I don't see any danger in this particular job right now, but I wonder if he does. Knows something I don't know."

"Why wouldn't he warn you of it then?"

"He just did."

"What?"

"He knew you would warn me because you're my friend and would worry, ask me about that to ease your worry, possibly." Iizuka answered, looking up at him with a thoughtful expression.

:---:

"Kenshin, what's up man? You're being quiet tonight." Sano asked from where he sat on the couch in their apartment.

"Thinking of Friday and what could I do to help them. Questions I want answered."

"Don't worry. You'll find your answers."

:---:

"Himura." Iizuka said from where he leaned against the tree where they would meet in one day.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"You'll have your chance tomorrow to talk to me."

"No, that will be the boss. I won't be there except to bring you and your girl to him. I want to ask a few questions, that is all."

"What are they, because I have a few of my own." Kenshin said.

"You will get your answers from my boss tomorrow night." Iizuka said.

"Listen. I want to know what's going on."

"You'll find out. What I want to know is what could be in your past that he could bring out to…persuade you to fight for him."

"I have nothing to hide?"

"You were just a normal kid with a normal past huh?"

"What are you suggesting?"

"Is there anyone who could make this just difficult for us?"

"Not that I know of?"

"What about those diaries? The one you and Kamiya found, what's in those that could make trouble?"

"What do you know of the diaries?" Kenshin practically hissed.

"Nothing that you don't. They hold your first past. Anything thing in that past that could cause us problems? Anything in Kamiya's diary that could cause us problems?"

"Nothing that I know of. They are pretty mundane occurrences."

"Are you sure?" Iizuka asked.

"As far as I am aware of, yes."

"I'll see you Friday then."

"What? No more questions?"

"No. And I won't answer yours." Iizuka said, walking away.